Lectionary 30, Year A
Proper 25 The Sunday between October 23 and October 29 Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, the year of Matthew Green
Next read on . Most ELCA congregations keep Reformation Sunday that day instead.
The Gospel: Matthew 22:34–46
Asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus names love of God and love of neighbor, then asks the Pharisees how the Christ can be David’s son.
Matthew 22:34-46
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.” 43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’ 45 “If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18
The LORD tells Moses to teach Israel to be holy by judging fairly, avoiding slander and grudges, and loving their neighbors as themselves.
Read it here
1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, the LORD your God, am holy.
15 “ ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness. 16 “ ‘You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. “ ‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD. 17 “ ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 “ ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 1
A picture of two ways of life: the person rooted in God’s teaching like a fruitful tree, and the wicked blown away like chaff.
Read it here
1 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the LORD’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Paul and his companions remind the Thessalonians that they shared the good news boldly and honestly, gentle as a nursing mother, giving their very selves.
Read it here
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, 2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. 4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6 nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: Deuteronomy 34:1–12 and Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17 in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
What is one thing Jesus says or does in this Gospel that you want to remember this week?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
This reading is told as a story on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 30 (Proper 25) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year A · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
A provisional alternative for this day
The Consultation on Common Texts has commended alternative readings to the churches for a three-year trial, reexamining passages historically misused to justify violence against Jews. The ELCA helped shape the work and encourages congregations to test it through 2028. The readings above remain the authorized ones. This is what the trial would change.
- Second reading
- Acts 10:44-48
The Holy Spirit falls on Gentiles.
The proposal (CCT) Preaching guidance (ELCA)
Provisional alternative readings commended by the Consultation on Common Texts for trial use, 2025–2028. Citations as published in a worship resource copyright © 2025 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reproduced for local, nonsale use.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.